September 08, 2023 - Student Transportation, Safe Schools Reporting Tool, Board and Committee Meetings, and more
Dear OCDSB Families,
On behalf of all of the staff and the trustees at the OCDSB, welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you for everything that you did to help the return to school go safely and smoothly. We know that the unseasonable weather and transportation issues added to the challenges of the first week back, and we appreciate your patience and support.
As you and your family settle back into school year routines, these tips and strategies may be helpful in navigating transitions.
I have been asked to share this letter and back to school video messages in English and French subtitles for parents from the Ontario Minister of Education.
Student Transportation
We know that families experiencing transportation disruptions are both frustrated and concerned about the impacts and inconvenience. We are very sorry for this. While OSTA continues to work on finding alternate solutions to prevent service disruptions, we encourage all families to use the OSTA Parent Portal to access information about transportation service and to sign up for transportation alerts. The OSTA Parent Portal Guide is a great resource to help you get set up.
School Bus Drivers needed: If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a school bus driver, please visit driveyellow.ca. The website provides all the information necessary to learn about qualifications, training, operators and has an easy application process.
Safe Schools Reporting Tool - An Anonymous Reporting Option for Students
The OCDSB has created a new Safe Schools Reporting Tool. It’s a private and anonymous way for students to share their concerns. If your child is feeling unsafe or worried about a friend or classmate, they can send an anonymous report through our website:ocdsb.ca/report-it. This can be used for concerns about many different things, like: bullying, harassment, threats, hate or discrimination, mental health concerns, vaping or drugs, or other concerns that are affecting you or someone else.
This tool is not a replacement for talking to their teacher or principal. It’s just another way to get help. If it's an emergency or someone is in danger, students should always call 911 immediately.
Calendars and Planning for Important Dates
Please consult the OCDSB’s Elementary and Secondary calendars for PA Days, holidays, exam dates, and more during the 2023-2024 School Year. In addition, schools avoid scheduling activities like evaluations and field trips on certain religious/creed-based days of significance. Additional dates of significance to learn about throughout the year can be found in our MultiFaith calendar and on our website.
Board and Committee Meetings
We resume our regular Board meeting schedule on Tuesday, September 12th with a meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Trustee Lyra Evans is the Board Chair and Trustee Lynn Scott is the newly-elected Vice-Chair. More details about the Board and Committee Meetings can be found on the OCDSB’s board calendar.
OCDSB Speaker Series
The OCDSB Speaker Series offers free information sessions to the parent community and seeks to provide parents and educators with access to leading ideas in education that will allow us to work collaboratively to better support student learning and well-being. Join us for the first virtual event in our series:
Journeying Together: Parenting Through the Storm with guest speaker and best-selling author Ann Douglas. During this virtual event, Ann will share strategies for getting to a happy, healthy place as a family, and strengthening relationships between parents/guardians and their children. Register now.
Date: September 19, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Register Now for Fall 2023 Virtual Night School!
Night School is a great way for students to upgrade a course, take a class not available at their home school, and for adult learners to upgrade courses and work towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Night School will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from September 28 to December 21. Learn more about what Night School has to offer, and register by Monday, September 25. Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or 613-239-2620.
We are Hiring!
The OCDSB is looking to hire Occasional Teachers, Educational Assistants, Early Childhood Educators, Early Learning Assistants and Office Assistants across the Ottawa area. Check out our careers page for more information on how to apply.
Ottawa Safety Council - Crossing Guards: School Zone Safety Team is made up of over 350 individuals who care about the safety of Ottawa's children conducting over 3 million safe crossings each year. Ottawa Safety Council is urgently looking for more crossing guards. Apply now!
Elections of 2023-2024 School Council Members
The election of school council members must be held within 30 days of the start of the school year. Any parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the school can be elected as a parent member of the school council. Your school council constitution will describe the membership and officer positions on the council, as well as the roles and responsibilities that accompany these positions.
OCDSB Indigenous Student Resource Newsletter
The OCDSB Indigenous Student Resource Newsletter is shared by the Indigenous Education Learning Team at the OCDSB. This newsletter provides bi-weekly updates of community events and opportunities for students, parents & guardians. Subscribe here.
Classroom Chronicles
Across the District, school communities are focussing on Learning, Well-Being and Social Responsibility. Through Classroom Chronicles, we’re showcasing the wonderful stories of students, staff, families and community partners making an impact in OCDSB schools and beyond. This summer, 34 OCDSB students went on a 2-week trip to Japan through an exchange program organized by the Ottawa-Carleton Education Network (OCENET) in partnership with Yamate Gakuin High School in Yokohama. Read about their journey.
Education Foundation of Ottawa
Every child deserves to be successful! Not all students are lucky enough to start their school day with the same foot forward as their peers. There are kids who are already behind before they even step into the classroom. The Education Foundation of Ottawa is changing that with your support. Help us help an OCDSB student. Donate Now.
We have an exciting and busy school year ahead. I have had the chance to visit two schools this week and am so impressed with the learning that is happening. My goal is to visit at least one school per week, and I look forward to meeting parents, students, and educators on these visits.
Thank You,
Pino Buffone
Director of Education